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Wine and dine route through the hills of Forli and Cesena
The suggested itinerary of
“The Wine and Dine Route through the
Hills of Forlė and Cesena” is 287
kilometers long. It is a complex trail because
it cuts through six large valleys of central
Romagna (Tramazzo, Montone, Rabbi, Bidente,
Savio and Rubicone) in the hills and foothills
from the Via Emilia to the north, to the small
towns half way up the valley to the south (Modigliana,
Dovadola, Predappio, Civitella, Mercato Saraceno,
Sogliano).
Imaginary entry gates to the Route
are the towns of Forlė, Forlimpopoli, Cesena and
Savignano, off the historical Via Emilia.
The “side” borders of the area in question are
the same as the Forlė-Cesena provincial borders:
Faenza to the north-west and Rimini to the
south-east.
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TOWNS ALONG THE WINE AND DINE ROUTE |
| Bertinoro |
Borghi |
Cesena |
| Castrocaro Terme - Terra del Sole |
Civitella di Romagna |
Dovadola |
| Forlė |
Forlimpopoli |
Longiano |
| Meldola |
Mercato Saraceno |
Modigliana |
| Montiano |
Predappio |
Roncofreddo |
| Savignano sul Rubicone |
Sogliano al Rubicone |
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Morphology and environment of this
extraordinary land
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These geographical and morphological peculiarities, together
with the particular locations of our members mean that
the route does not go round in a complete circle, but
the traveler can always go back to his starting point,
if he wants to, without ever going along the same road
twice, thanks to the dozens of roads (now all asphalted)
along the ridges and counter-ridges and in the side
valleys; the connecting roads between the
counter-ridges, as well as often rewarding us with
breath-taking scenery, also avoid repetitive journeys
along the bottom of the valley.
The 287 kilometers mentioned above make up the main
itinerary, taking you through or close by all the towns
along the Route and the most important locations to
enjoy food and wine, as well as those of significant
historical, cultural and environmental interest.
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The main itinerary also includes a complex network of
many important secondary routes: it is in this vast
labyrinth of roads that the one hundred or so businesses
and associations which are all members of the Wine and
Dine Route through the Hills of Forlė and Cesena can be
found.
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The six valleys which descend for 60-70 kilometers from
the ridge which divides Tuscany from Romagna make up a
morphologically complex territory. Geologically, the
mid- and high Appennines in Romagna are made up of
marly-arenaceous rock in alternate layers. The sandstone
is dark and more resistant to erosion and the marl,
crumbly, breaking up easily; this makes for scenery
which the visitor does not forget in a hurry.
Huge
cracks in the rocks (which are often slanted) can be
seen when they are not covered in trees or hanging over
riverbeds like spectacular cliffs. Some large,
impressive examples can be found to the south of Predappio, and in Galeata and Mercato Saraceno.
Further down in the mid- lower hills you can find clay
calanques, in stark contrast to the land cleverly farmed
by the local farmers nearby: spectacular examples can be
seen on the borders of the Route along the Faenza Hills
(in the Modigliana and Converselle -Terra del Sole
areas); and dramatic ones in the wilderness of the
Meldola-Pieve di Rivoschio-Voltre area.
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Deep in the heart of Romagna, in the area upriver from
Forlė and Cesena, you can come across small villages
dotted along the ridges and in the valleys: there life
is imbued with craft and farm work, produce from the
land and farms, with a contented balance between town
and the country living, all steeped in extraordinary
ethno-historical and cultural peculiarities. The precise
geometric lay-out of the orchards on the plains blends
into the beautiful harmony of the rolling hills carpeted
with vineyards, like the ones often admired in and
around Castiglione, Predappio, Bertinoro and Savignano.
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History has left its mark
The
legacy left by History in these lands is still very much
alive. As well as the geo-historical dispute as to
beside which river of the Cesena/Savignano area
(Rubicone, Urgon or Pisciatello) Julius Caesar
pronounced his famous rebellious phrase, there is an
extraordinary example of civil, agricultural and
military engineering from Roman times in the Cesena
countryside, the ancient “Centuriazione Romana” where
the land was divided up into plots of 100m x 100m. At
Forlimpopoli, inside the majestic Fortress, you can
visit the Civic Archeological Museum which is one of the
most important and complete examples of its kind in
Northern Italy, with artefacts dating back to the Roman
era.
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The Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna exercised spiritual
and political control over the church in the hills and
mountains, through the Abbey of Saint Ellero in Galeata:
and whilst higher up in the Appennines, in inaccessible
locations, monastries of considerable importance were
being founded, small parish churches (like the ones at
Bertinoro, Civitella, Meldola and Modigliana) were
established further down the hills, which were to become
more important in castrum in the Middle Ages.
Then it was the turn of the Malatesta family to leave
its indelible mark, from a historical, artistic and
cultural point of view, especially in Rimini and Cesena
(Cesena, Montiano, Longiano, Roncofreddo, Borghi and
Sogliano).
And, finally, traces of “Florentine Romagna”
(architecture, toponymy, some recipes) along the Route
through the Hills of Forlė and Cesena can be seen at
Castrocaro - Terra del Sole, Dovadola and Modigliana,
which were governed by the Grand Duke of Tuscany for
five centuries.
From the quality of life to the quality of a
holiday
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The
Hills of Forlė and Cesena: such a varied land, rich in
values and motivations, facilities and businesses, that
it seemed a perfect backdrop to develop our tourism with
the flavors, colors and perfumes of our local food and
wine, but that is not all: artistic and traditional
craftwork; celebrations, fairs and festivals; high
quality service in hotels and other facilities, modern
spa facilities; sport: walks, hikes, horse-riding,
mountain biking; cycling (most of the ‘Nove Colli’ cycle
race follows the Wine and Dine Route).
And let’s not forget the tradition of “living life to
the full”, typical of the people of Romagna, but perhaps
especially found in the hills and valleys. The places
along the Wine and Dine Route through the Hills of Forlė
and Cesena: where the quality of the land is reflected
in the quality of a holiday.
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more on the Trail of Forli and Cesena... >>>
Courtesy of
Strada dei vini e dei sapori di Forli e Cesena
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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